The HERO UCI MARATHON WORLD CUP 2025 is not over yet, but thoughts are already turning to next year's edition. The organization, which has coordinated and promoted this new version of the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Cup on behalf of the UCI, has already defined the race calendar for the 2026 season.

The programme includes all of the races that took place in 2025, confirming the success of the partnership that has developed between the individual organizers and the UCI. However, the series of marathon races will kick off with a new race that will take place in Calpe on the Spanish Costa Blanca in mid-February 2026.

The six dates of the Hero UCI Marathon World Cup 2026

-    February 21    HERO Costa Blanca      Calpe (SPA)
-     9. May    Capoliveri Legend Cup    Elba (ITA)
-    31. May    Naturland Andorra    Andorra (AND)
-    13. June    HERO Südtirol Dolomites     Selva di Val Gardena (ITA)
-    26. July    Black Forest ULTRA Bike Marathon     Kirchzarten (GER)
-    20. September     La Tramun Sea Otter Europe    Girona (SPA)

A Marathon World Cup that spans a total of five countries, 481 kilometers of race course and 14,459 meters of elevation gain.

"The first edition of the HERO UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup has proven to be an undeniable success so far, and I am delighted that its five popular competitions will be back on the 2026 race calendar. In addition, we are expanding the series with a new addition to the race calendar, the HERO Costa Blanca, which opens the season," emphasized UCI President David Lappartient. "We can look forward to another dense and exciting season of mountain bike races, both at UCI World Cup level and for riders in the amateur category. The fact that the latter can also ride in a World Cup environment is an excellent approach to further promote the mountain bike marathon discipline."

The organizing committee is also extremely pleased with the upcoming conclusion of the first HERO UCI MARATHON WORLD CUP, which has attracted elite riders from 46 countries. The race is also arousing growing interest among mountain bikers in the amateur categories, which have already attracted more than 3,000 participants this year. They ride the same routes as the elite athletes, covering distances ranging from 60 to 160 kilometers, depending on the category and route, through natural landscapes and very different terrains.

"We are looking forward to the final stage of the UCI Marathon World Cup 2025, which will take place in Girona at the end of September. In the meantime, however, we have already been busy planning the second edition of the race series, which will reinforce the current format," says Gerhard Vanzi, who is responsible for the organization of the HERO UCI MARATHON WORLD CUP. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the local organizers and the UCI for their experienced support and genuine cooperation in this competition year."

However, for now, all attention is focused on the La Tramun Sea Otter Europe race, which will take place in Girona on Sunday, September 21, and which will decide the winners of the 2025 edition of the HERO UCI MARATHON WORLD CUP. The winners of the general classification in the men's and women's masters categories will also be crowned at this event.

heroucimarathonworldcup.com